Explore your college options

There are a lot of colleges to choose from in California. It’s hard to know which college is the “best” one. At EAOP, we believe the best college is the one where you will be successful, so whether it is big or small, in an urban or rural setting, finding the one that matches your needs is important.

What is the difference between “eligibility” and “competitive eligibility?”

Eligibility means that a student has met all the basic entrance requirements (coursework, GPA, entrance exams). To be competitively eligible means that the student goes beyond the basic requirements. To gain admission to more selective colleges, students should focus on being competitively eligible.

What’s the difference between a Cal State (CSU) and a UC?

Both are public universities.

Campus Explorer explaines:

One of the key differences between UC and CSU is their academic offerings. CSU is known for basing their courses and degree programs on practical applications and non-research-oriented careers. The CSU system awards mostly bachelor’s degrees, and does not offer as many advanced-level degrees as UC.

Meanwhile, the UC system has an excellent reputation for research and theory-based teaching. Many of the professors engage in research, providing students with the opportunity to learn in a research setting. In addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, UC also awards numerous professional and doctorate degrees.

It’s important to keep this in mind when choosing between the CSU and UC systems. Neither is better than the other – rather, students may be more suited to a particular system due to their academic and/or career goals. Make sure you check out the academic programs offered at CSU and UC to find out if your chosen major is available and at which campuses it can be found.

 What’s the difference between a public and a private college?

A private college or university often operates as an educational nonprofit organization. It does not receive its primary funding from a state government. They are generally are smaller and have smaller class sizes than public schools. Some private colleges will have religious affiliations. Private colleges may have a smaller selection of majors nonetheless, may offer more specialized academic programs. 

Where can I obtain additional information pertaining to the different California Colleges?

California Colleges  Is the offical source for college and career planning in California. This site has a “college matching” feature. Click “Explore Colleges” at the top of the page, then “Undergraduate Student-Campus Matching Assistant.”